Protect Sudbury delays Eversource timeline

Zane Razzaq Daily News staff @zanerazz

Tuesday

Aug 7, 2018 at 7:17 PMAug 8, 2018 at 7:19 AM

SUDBURY -- Eversource refiled its final environmental impact report after a citizen advocacy group identified a procedural error in the documents, briefly delaying a controversial project to build a utility line to Hudson.

The 382-page document was submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) and is a necessary step in obtaining a certificate from the state agency to build a nine-mile, high-voltage transmission line between Sudbury and Hudson.

Eversource filed the documents, which outlines significant environmental efforts of proposed projects for the public and officials, on July 2. The utility was required to notify all people and organizations who had previously submitted comments to the first draft report.

"The short answer is, they didn't," said Ray Phillips, the president of Protect Sudbury, a local group organized against the proposed project.

Renata Aylward, a member of Protect Sudbury, said that the group filed an objection with the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency and within 24 hours Eversource withdrew the report. Protect Sudbury became aware of the mistake after volunteers examined the report.

"It was a little sigh of relief but now we're back to work," said Aylward.

In a July 26 letter to the town, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., Eversource's contractor, wrote that the mistake was because of "a transmission error with the email notification that was sent previously with that filing."

"As a result, the FEIR filing was resubmitted to MEPA on Thursday, July 26, 2018, so that the public comment period can begin anew and be in compliance with all procedural requirements. The content of the FEIR has not changed," reads the letter.

Eversource is proposing to build a transmission line buried mostly under the inactive Mass Central Railroad between Sudbury and Hudson, which is overgrown with trees and near many homes. The company says the line is needed to upgrade the MetroWest electric grid, but many residents are worried about the health and environmental implications of digging up the forested corridor.

The identified error delays the timeline towards obtaining a MEPA certificate by about six weeks. On Aug. 8, the Massachusetts Environmental Monitor will publish a notice letting residents know about the final report. Written comments to the report will be due to the MEPA office by Sept. 7.

After that, MEPA will review the comments. If the state agency agrees that there are deficiencies in the final report, the petitioner would have to submit an addendum.

Meanwhile, the state's Energy Facilities Siting Board continues to assess the case. They are expected to make a decision anywhere from as soon as September or sometime in 2019. No decision can come from the siting board until the project receives the MEPA certificate.

Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues said that the town has no comment, saying that its lawyers will review the report and have a formal response. A spokesman for Eversource could not be reached before the Daily News deadline.

Zane Razzaq can be reached at 508-626-3919 or zrazzaq@wickedlocal.com and on Twitter at @zanerazz.